Roving Photographer

CELESTE BALDUCCI “The Scrabble Club has been meeting the first Saturday of each month, for the last seven years, soon after the Church was landmarked as the birthplace of Scrabble. Thanks to Alfred Butts, the inventor, we have much fun and learn a lot too!”

By Rev. Austin H. Armitstead

"Why do you enjoy playing the game Scrabble?"

Scrabble was created at the Community United Methodist Church in Jackson Hieghts.

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MARCIA WOLFSON “Playing Scrabble every month with our club is intellectually stimulating and a lot of fun. It’s a wonderful way to make new friends and build one’s vocabulary, at the same time. Scrabble is a very enjoyable game.”

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SUNNY BARBA “It is so exciting to think that we are playing in the exact location where Scrabble was invented seventy years ago. The fact that this game is still so popular and educational is part of its legacy.”

THERESE ROMERO “Scrabble is an intellectual stimulus, a social outlet. Walking to the club in historic Jackson Heights is a very healthy benefit.”

IRENE GALLI “There are many clubs that I participate in. The Jackson Heights Art Club and the monthly Scrabble Club. It all started here and inventor, Alfred Butts lived in the neighborhood too.”

AUSTIN H. ARMITSTEAD “I.S.145 was the site of the first school Scrabble tournament and the sign at 35th Avenue and 81st St. indicates that this is where Scrabble started. It was landmarked by the city when I was one of the pastors at Community United Methodist. Now over 121 countries play Scrabble and it is sold in 29 languages, including Braille.”